Q:HARD STEERING

Boat Doc, this summer I bought a 2015 22-foot pontoon with a 115 Yamaha. It is super hard to steer. It’s a single-cable-type steering. What can be done that will make this boat more enjoyable to drive? Thanks.

Ron Rollins Golden, Missouri

A: Simple things first. Are you trimming the engine up as you accelerate? An engine at speed with no trim will be harder to steer. Next, your engine has a trim tab (fin) located above the propeller. This is designed to be slightly offset to one side in order to counter that natural tendency of a propeller to exert a steering force (prop torque). If the trim tab is not adjusted correctly, steering will be harder than it needs to be.

Assuming your outboard is a righthand rotation, the trim tab should be adjusted so that its aft edge is slightly to the starboard. The best procedure is to try it out on the water and adjust to suit your normal cruising speed. You’ll need a 12 mm metric socket wrench and an extension.

Finally, know that with cable steering there will always be some exertion required of the person at the helm. If that bothers you, consider having electric or hydraulic steering installed.